Lady Titans Lose To Colts In District Championship
The Harrodsburg Herald/Wesley Bird
Eighth Grader Karis Wilham beat the buzzer with a floater in the Lady Titans’ 46th District championship game against West Jessamine on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Wesley Bird
Herald Staff
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The Mercer County Titans girls basketball team (14-13) lost, 64-30, to the West Jessamine Colts (19-12) in the 46th District Championship for the second season in a row on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The tournament host jumped out to an early lead, and Mercer could never catch up to the Colts’ physical style of play. Junior Izzie Carlton led the Titans with 13 points and seven rebounds, with eighth grader Karis Wilham adding 12 points and five rebounds.
West Jessamine scored the first seven points of the game with two layups and a three-pointer to prompt a quick timeout from Mercer Head Coach Chris Souder, 7-0. Wilham was fouled on a putback and made both of her free throws to score the Titans’ first points, 7-2. Sophomore Olive Frisby found Maddi Baker under the basket for a layup, and Carlton scored on an inbound pass, 11-6.
After a layup from the Colts, Carlton was fouled and went to the line and made two free throws, 13-8. West Jessamine scored the next five points with a putback and three, and the first quarter ended with Wilham beating the buzzer with a floater, 18-10.
The second quarter started with Carlton going to the line after being fouled on a putback attempt and splitting a pair of free throws, 18-11. Mercer fouled the Colts in transition after a steal, and they made one of two free throws, and on the other, freshman Annie Releford split a pair as well, 22-12. Wilham knocked down a 3-pointer for the Titans, but West Jessamine scored the final eight points of the half, going to the free throw line three times and scoring in the paint twice, 30-15.
The second quarter was heavily officiated, and frustration played apart on some of Mercer’s fouls. The Titans are again without sophomore Alexa Wade, who would help offset the defensive pressure from West Jessamine.
The Titans started the second half scoring with Carlton getting her own miss and scoring, and Releford made a floater in the paint.
